Book Launch | The Ultimate Goal: A Former R&AW Chief Deconstructs How Nations Construct Narratives

About the book: In The Ultimate Goal, Vikram Sood, former chief of India’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), explains ‘the narrative’ and how a country’s ability to construct, sustain and control narratives, at home and abroad, enhances its strength and position. Intelligence agencies invariably play a critical role in this, an often-indispensable tool of statecraft. A ‘narrative’ may not necessarily be based on truth, but it does need to be plausible, have a meaning and create a desired perception. During most of the twentieth century, intelligence agencies helped shape narratives favourable to their countries’ agendas through literature, history, drama, art, music and cinema. Today, social media has become crucial to manipulating, countering or disrupting narratives, with its ability to spread fake news disinformation, and provoke reactions. Moderator: Samir Saran, President, ORF Speakers: Smriti Irani Minister for Textiles, and Women & Child Development, Government of India Baijayant Panda National Vice President, Bharatiya Janata Party Sanjeev Sanyal Principal Economic Adviser, Ministry of Finance, Government of India Sunjoy Joshi Chairman, ORF Vikram Sood Former Head, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), Advisor, ORF; author — ‘The Ultimate Goal’ #TheUltimateGoal #Narratives #BookDiscussion